it's a very small file as you can see, and beginner as i am, i have no clue on how to read that file in order to make things work on java.

any help is greatly appreciated!

thanks in advance!

Izzy

03-06-2012, 09:26 PM

pbrockway2

Re: rewrite dos abandonware games to java

I am not at all sure that decompiling the executable files is the way to proceed.

First of all it will probably result in code that is cryptic, at best, when compared with a higher level language. Secondly there is no reason to think that a program written in Java will correspond, step by step, with its counterpart written in some other language. In other words the original source code (which you don't get from merely decompiling) would offer, at best, hints about how to proceed in Java.

There is an alternative, and that it to write the Java version from scratch. If the games are simple they might be good candidates for such "reverse engineering".

In any case a good knowledge of Java is required and there's no "royal road" to acquiring that knowledge. I don't say this to put you off - in fact the games (or cut down versions of them) might be just the thing to experiment with as you are learning the language. You don't say how much of a beginner you are, but at the very beginning the games you write will be very cut down(!). As you make progress you should be able to make more and more acceptable Java versions. Basically you move from only being able to write simple things based on what you already know, to having the games suggest areas you want to find out about (graphics, timers, etc) and, thereby, guide your learning rather than merely follow it as textbook exercises do.

Good luck!

03-06-2012, 09:45 PM

Sangetsu041282

Re: rewrite dos abandonware games to java

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbrockway2

I am not at all sure that decompiling the executable files is the way to proceed.

First of all it will probably result in code that is cryptic, at best, when compared with a higher level language. Secondly there is no reason to think that a program written in Java will correspond, step by step, with its counterpart written in some other language. In other words the original source code (which you don't get from merely decompiling) would offer, at best, hints about how to proceed in Java.

There is an alternative, and that it to write the Java version from scratch. If the games are simple they might be good candidates for such "reverse engineering".

In any case a good knowledge of Java is required and there's no "royal road" to acquiring that knowledge. I don't say this to put you off - in fact the games (or cut down versions of them) might be just the thing to experiment with as you are learning the language. You don't say how much of a beginner you are, but at the very beginning the games you write will be very cut down(!). As you make progress you should be able to make more and more acceptable Java versions. Basically you move from only being able to write simple things based on what you already know, to having the games suggest areas you want to find out about (graphics, timers, etc) and, thereby, guide your learning rather than merely follow it as textbook exercises do.

Good luck!

It is indeed as you say very cryptic and weird code that's beyond my grasp for understanding :s. I indeed plan to write those programs from scratch, but my goal with this reverse engineering was mainly intended to use original files from the games like backgrounds, images and static objects. try alleycat and you'll see what i mean :) (use dosbox to load it since it won't work on a w7 or vista OS)
tx for the quick reply though!

03-06-2012, 10:01 PM

fatabass

Re: rewrite dos abandonware games to java

omg.. this game.. :) brings good memories.. thanks for asking this question :)